Xploration Nature Knows Best
Season 1
In this fascinating new STEM series, host Danni Washington looks at the fun and clever ways scientists, engineers and innovators are copying plants, animals and more to create some of the world's most amazing advancements.
13 Episodes
- Nature That's 'Plane' to See
E1Episode 1Nature That's 'Plane' to SeeIt's no secret that birds were the inspiration for the first airplanes but, in this episode, host Danni Washington takes a look at how exactly that connection succeeded. She'll fly planes in tight formation to try to mimic the energy-efficient flight patterns of migrating birds and look at how engineers are inventing wings that change their shape while in flight to mimic flying squirrels. - The Science of Safety
E3Episode 3The Science of SafetyEvery species found in nature is a survivor, there's a reason they've been on the planet for as long as they have. So host Danni Washington is trying to figure out what humankind can learn from them that we can use to protect ourselves. She'll explore how fish are helping us to build better armor and how woodpeckers are assisting us to address a top safety concern in the form of concussions. - Under the Sea Inspiration
E4Episode 4Under the Sea InspirationThe ocean covers more than 70 percent of our planet's surface and humankind has only explored about 5% of it. But the diverse wildlife from the areas we have investigated serves as a major source of inspiration for modern technology! Host Danni Washington uses this episode as an opportunity to continue the investigation, heading under the sea to explore a reef that's full of life! - The Wonders of the Whirlybird
E7Episode 7The Wonders of the WhirlybirdHelicopters took a lot of their early inspiration from one of nature's most efficient fliers in the dragonfly and host Danni Washington's going to take one for a spin to see exactly how! She'll also take a look at how this insect and the wings of owls. - Mastering the Mimicry
E8Episode 8Mastering the MimicryWhile inventors have been looking toward nature as inspiration for centuries, this science is just starting to come into it's own and was recently given a name... Biomimicry! Join Danni Washington as we visit all the new places where this science is taking hold, from schools, to zoos, to national conventions like the USA Science and Engineering Festival in Washington D.C.! - Swimming with Sharks
E9Episode 9Swimming with SharksTo many people the thought of sharks can be scary but they're actually a huge help to our oceans... and have inspired some awesome tech! Danni Washington will take the plunge and swim with sharks, relaying how their skin is being used to fight germs and their senses can help build better robots! And Danni goes surfing to reveal how scientists are developing wetsuits that are invisible to sharks! - Studying the Swarms
E10Episode 10Studying the SwarmsAnimals in nature have other ways of communicating than you or I do and many of them are able to move collectively in packs called "swarms". Host Danni Washington takes a look at how today's scientists are studying this swarm behavior to make better robots that will help in our factories, to collect things on other planets, or to make better autonomous cars! - Muscle of Mimicry
E11Episode 11Muscle of MimicrySome of the world's strongest materials are naturally made like the silk spiders use to make their webs which, pound for pound, is actually 5 times stronger than steel. In this episode, Danni Washington will look into how we're looking toward nature to make our other things stronger... like glass, metals, and even ourselves! - Automated Animals
E13Episode 13Automated AnimalsRobots are built for all kinds of things and, these days, their inventors are looking toward nature to see how animals can help them to do the things that humans can't! Join Danni Washington as she checks out tiny robots based on manta rays that are helping to fight heart problems and robots that are learning to run as fast as our speediest animals.
